Signal system for vehicles



Jan. 19, 1954 B. R. LEVY 2,666,870

SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed April 11, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

job or Boerf Lev Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES OF F-lC-E SIGNALSYSTEM FOR 'YEHIGLE'S BohorRobentLvy, Choisy-i'le- Boi,Erance Application April:1'1,;1950., Serial 1105155341 "Glaimspriori-ty, application-France "April 14, 1949 ZGlaims. 1 This invention relates to devices forint'ermittently interrupting an electric circuit, "particu- 'larly forye'hicle signal systems.

In most known devices of this'type,ithecontro1 of the interruption is effected by lei-metal thermo 'couples actingupon a thermostat or the *like, the operation of which is'not entirely satisfactory and the life of which is usuallyshort. Bi-metal inter-rupters also have the drawback ,of probable defective contacts. Furthermore, they are dependent upon the ambient temperature,

which is particularly inconvenient when the device is used at very low temperatures.

The invention has for'its object to provide a device for periodically interrupting at least one electric circuit, said device beingnon-responsive to temperature variations and having no frail or delicate part, while operating safely to completely close said circuit automatically and periodically within a predetermined time, as well as to completely interrupt said circuit within position against the action of said means, the

energizing of said electromagnet and the'feeding of said circuit taking place through saidswitch.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a device of the type described, in which said means are constituted by the force resulting from the action of gravity *upon the various movable members of the device.

The device according to the invention maybe easily connected in any circuit to lac-controlled,

and in an-operating circuit for its magneuirom suitably selected points of conductors interconnecting in series the coil of said magnet and said switch. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide a signal system, in particular for vehicles, in which a device of the type described cooperates with a circuit comprising at least two signals adapted to be ied-from-a suitable current source through said device, preferably with intermittently interrupted current.

According tc'another feature of the invention,

cury switch. terminal 24. Conductor -4 is connected to-one "a terminal '28.

(01.; sis-a211,

said signal system is-"completed by a manually controlled switch capable -of short-circuiti-ng the 1 automatic mercury "switch, so that the signaling "lights may' be "used as "parking lights.

Thee-elective use of the same'la-mps asparking "or blinking lights "is =furt-her made possible, due to t-he factthat the device according to the invention can be "fed with "current having a strength su'ificient to ensure-the feeding of the parking lights, which is usually impossible, in

particular with a conventional thermostat system.

-'Other-'obj*ects and-advantages of the invention --will appear *from the following description *referring to the accompanying 'drawingsin-whioh "one embodiment "of the invention has been shownas an illustr ation.

{In these *draw'ings: Fig.1 is a-wiring diagram of a signal system --controlled by an automatic interrupter accord- -ing-t'o t-he invention.

'Fig. Zis a side View "df-saidinterrupter. Fig. -is a plan view-corresponding to Fig. 2. In t-he -example :shown in 'Figs. 2 and 3, the

automatic interruptingdevice according to the 'invention comprises-a bearer N5 tiltably mounted about --a pivot "F1 on --a supporting plate 2-3. A rneiweury switch 3 is adjustablysecured on bearer 4 6, so as to Joe 'tiltabl'e therewith. Atone end of the mercury switch -3,two conductors 2 and Ware-sosecure'd that the ends of 'said conductors project *into *the =m'ercurycontainer, thus constituting the "interrupting contacts of the iner- =Gonductor 2 is "connected to a end 5 of the operating-=coilof an-electromagnet l, secured '--on the supporting plate 2-3 through The other *end of said coil is breughtto a terminal i fi.

Theoperating circuit or Y electromagnet =7 'must he connected to terminals "26- 2"! so as to pass "through contacts 2 4. The circuit to he -controlled may be-either interposedin series-insaid operating circuitor connected, inparallel-;there- With,-t0 terminals 2 1--2 3, which is thecase, e. g.

dn the=wiring-diagram ofFig. 1.

in "the example shcwvn, electromagnet 1 is of the sucking coil type. *Its plunging core has the shape-of -a freelgmovablerod 19, the outer end of which is-provided with "an eyelet '24 in which is--en-gage'd-a 'stud -'l-8 which-cooperates, .on bearer 1 5- and, more precisely, on the 'end'th'ereof which iscppo-site to the switch-contacts, with an abutment 2% which is'so located on'said supporting pl-ate 23 "as to limit in one "direction the tilting :2 stroke of bearer It as soon as the mercury switch 3 has been brought back into its normal resting position under the action of gravity.

As soon as a circuit fed from a suitable current source is completed through terminals 26 and 21 and. the resting mercury, the coil of magnet I is energized so that the same attracts core I9 to tilt the assembly comprising bearer I6 and mercury switch 3 against the action of gravity. The mercury thus flows into a position in which conductors 2 and 4 are no longer interconnected. At'this moment, electromagnet I is no longer energized and releases core I9, so that all freely movable members of the device are brought back by gravity into their original resting position, in which the mercury establishes once more a contact between conductors 2 and 4, whereupon this operation cycle is renewed as long as the circuit is fed. In these conditions, it is clear that any circuit completed through contacts 2 and 4 will be fed intermittently within well defined periods, the duration of which may be predetermined, while the duration of the intermediate periods during which said feeding is interrupted may also be predetermined so that, with the device according to the invention, it becomes possible to generate various signals (for example blinking signals providing short light pulses recurring at a comparatively low frequency or conversely long duration light pulses separated by comparatively short black-out intervals) A signal system which may be used for example in motorcars is described hereafter with reference to Fig. 1.

There is shown at I a battery having its negative terminal grounded while its positive terminal is connected to one contact 2 of mercury switch 3, through terminals 2| or 22 of a reversing switch 20. The signal lights are constituted in this example by two lamps I3 and I4 which are arranged in suitable parts of the vehicle. They may be used for example as turn indicating blinking lights. Both lamps I3 and I4 are grounded on one side, while, on the othe side, each of them is connected to a stationary contact II and I2 respectively of a second reversing switch II], the movable contact of which is interconnected with conductor 4 interposed between switch 3 and the end 5 of coil 6 of electromagnet I, while the other end 8 of coil 6 is also grounded. Switches II) and may be ganged. Moreover, the above described signal system may be completed by a manually controlled switch I5 which is so mounted as to permit short-circuiting the automatic mercury switch 3.

This signal system operates as follows:

If, for example, lamp I4 is to be used as a blinking signal, it suffices, after having opened switch I5, to bring the movable arm II) from the neutral position shown in Fig. 1 into contact with terminal I2, which brings simultaneously the movable arm 29 which was originally in a neutral position into contact with terminal 22, thus establishing a connection between the positive terminal of battery I and contact 2 of the mercury switch 3, the mercury mass of which establishes in turn a connection between said contact 2 and the grounded end 8 of coil 6, said connection taking place through contact 4 connected with end 5 of said coil. The current flowing from battery I through contacts 2 and 4 and coil 6 to ground also flows to ground in parallel from contact 4 through terminals 9 and I2 and lamp I4, so that the current simultaneously causes illumination of lamp I4 and the operation of electromagnet I which acts in turn upon the mercury switch 3, which results in the latter interrupting, after a predetermined time, the connection between battery I and contact 4 so that lamp I4 is cut off. At the same time the electromagnet 1 releases and acts no longer upon mercury switch 3 which then, after another well defined time, assumes its original resting position anew, so that lamp I4 is once more illuminated while electromagnet I is once more energized.

It will be understood that the same process goes on as long as the reversing switch I 9 further establishes the connection between terminals 9 and I2 and that the signal system acts in the same manner upon lamp I3 when the reversing switch I0 connects terminal 9 with terminal II.

Now, if either lamp I3 or I4 is to be used as a parking light, it suffices to close switch I5 for short-circuiting the automatic mercury switch 3, whereupon, if the reversing switch I0 is brought into contact with either terminal II or terminal I 2, the corresponding lamp I3 or I4 is continuously illuminated.

It is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown and that many modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the invention. In particular, the core of electromagnet 1, instead of being movable as described, may be stationary while pin I8 of bearer I6 may be designed as an armature, in which case the mechanical link between bearer I6 and the core of the electromagnet may be omitted.

What is claimed is:

1. A signal system for vehicles equipped with a pair of signal lights, comprising, in combination, a source of current, a circuit connecting one side of each light to said source, a manually operable changeover switch in said. circuit having a neutral position in which said circuit is opened and a pair of selective contacts connected to said respective lights, an interrupter in said circuit comprising a tiltable support, a mercury switch carried by said support and having a pair of spaced terminals at one end thereof connected between said changeover switch and said source, a magnet connected through said switch to said source via said interrupter and arranged to tilt said support against gravity to open its contact terminals, whereby to periodically interrupt the circuit through the selected light when said changeover switch is in its corresponding position, and a second manually operable switch connected across the terminals of said mercury switch for feeding only a selected one of said lights with a continuous uninterrupted current.

2. A signal system for vehicles equipped with a pair of signal lights, comprising, in combination, a source of current, a circuit connecting one side of each light to said source, a manually operable changeover switch in said circuit having a neutral position in which said circuit is opened and a pair of selective contacts connected to said respective lights, an interrupter in said circuit comprising a tiltable support, a mercury switch tube having a pair of spaced terminals at one end thereof connected between said changeover switch and said source, means to adjustably secure said tube on said support to normally close the contact between said two terminals by gravity, an electromagnetic coil connected through said changeover switch to said source via said interrupter, an axially movable core actuated by said coil, and means to link said movable core with said support to tilt the same against gravity to open the contact between said terminals when References Cited in the file of this patent saici core is attracted into S9.id coil so as inter- UNITED STATES PATENTS mittentiy to interrupt the c1rcu1t through the selected light when said changeover switch is in its Number Name Date corresponding position, and a second manually 5 179%I945 a 10,5931 operable switch connected across the terminals of Phllhps June said mercury switch for disabling the same and 211221503 3911 July 5 1933 for feeding a selected one of said lights with'a 2333394 Murray 1941 continuous uninterrupted current, in accordance 21300595 3, 1942 with the position of said changeover switch. 10 2,440,028 swlsher 1943 BOHOR ROBERT LEVY. 2,514,604 Hollins July 11, 1950 

